Multiple fuse



' y 1,1942. H. B. JOSUN 2,289,306

MULTIPLE FUSE Filed Dec. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l In uentor A itorn e yJuly 7, 1942. H. B. JOSLIN MULTIPLE FUSE Filed Dec. 5, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 A iior 'ney Patented July 7, 1942 MULTIPLE FUSE Harry B.Joslin, Columbia Falls, Mont., assignor of one-third to Mary E. F.Dowler, Columbia Falls, Mont.

Application December 5, 1940, Serial No. 368,700

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in fuse blocks for automobiles,although not necessarily restricted thereto, and the primary object ofmy invention is to provide a simple and efficient arrangement of thischaracter whereby a fresh fuse may be instantly brought into circuitfollowing the blowing out of another fuse, without the necessity ofreplacing any of the fuses until all of the fuses have been blown out.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an arrangement ofthe character indicated which is especially adapted for mounting on thereverse side of the instrument panel of the automobile or the like, withthe control or operating knob exposed at the opposite side of theinstrument panel for instant operation by the driver.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom a reading of the following description taken in connection with theappended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general front elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view showing theembodiment applied to the reverse side of an instrument panel, thelatter being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken alongside ofthe switch arm and through portions of the contact are and the guide forthe switch arm.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the contact arc.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designatesthe embodiment which comprises a suitable generally rectangular casing 6which is closed at its front side as indicated by the numeral 1 and openat its rear side as indicated by the numeral 8, the casing beingprovided with a telescoping cover 9 removably mounted on the rear of thecasing to close the rear of the casing and to be held in place by springcatches It at opposite ends of the casing. Along the forward wall I isapplied a plate or block I I of insulating material which forms the basefor the fuses and the switch arrangement.

A bus bar I2 is secured on the base I 1 adjacent one end of the casingas indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the bus bar terminating at one in abinding post l3 which traverses the bottom of 55 the wall of the casingfrom which it is insulated by a grommet M. The fuse clips I5 areattached to the bus bar l2 both structurally and electrically to connectall together the barrels IS on the adjacent ends of the fuses ll, ofwhich a suitable number will be provided. The opposite fuse clips l8 aresecured to the insulating base II to receive the opposite barrels on thefuses in alignment with the clips l5. Each individual fuse clip l8 has acorresponding conductor l9 leading to a corresponding one of thesegmental contacts 2B which are separated by insulation 2| on thecontact are 22 which is mounted on the insulating base II in the spacebetween the fuses and the left hand wall 23 of the casing 6, as clearlyshown in Figures 2 and 3, of the drawings.

Overlying each insulation 2| of the contact are 22 is a recliningL-shaped spring 24 which is fastened as indicated by the numeral 25 tothe base II, and to the underside of the horizontal portions of thesesprings are attached the semicircular insulating material guide 26 whichis registered with the contact are 22, with the head 21 of the switcharm 28 slidably interposed between the guide 26 and the contact are 22,as shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. The said head has a copperplate for engagement with the conductive segments or contacts 20. on thecontact arc 22.

The switch arm 28 is relatively rigid and has its radially inward endoverlying the rotary shaft 29 to which it is non-rotatably connected bymeans of a screw 30 passing through th switch arm and into the end ofthe shaft 29 as shown in Figure 4. An insulating spacer 3| surrounds theshaft 29 and keeps the switch arm 28 properly positioned. The switch arm28 has on its upper side the opening 32 in which the head of the screw30 is countersunk, widened and rounded to accept the hemi-sphericalterminal 33 on a spring arm 34 comprising the reclining standard portionof an L-shaped spring 35 which has its foot portion traversed by abinding post 36 which passes through a grommet 37 in the wall 23 of thecasing as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

The shaft 29 passes through a conforming opening in the base II andanother conforming opening in the front wall I of the casing 5. Inpassing through the instrument panel 38, in the manner shown in Figure2, the shaft traverses an insulating sleeve 39 which protects it fromthe instrument panel, and the shaft carries a lock nut 40 on itsthreaded portion 4|. The nut 40 is adapted to be turned up against thesleeve 39 with its flange 42 engaged with the front of the instrumentpanel, so as to draw the casing 6 up tight against the back of theinstrument panel. The front end of the shaft 29 has a suitable knob 43which has on its front end numerals 44 corresponding in number andspacing to the number of fuses in the casing 6, so that the driver cantell by the position of these numerals how many good fuses are left andwhich ones they are, so as to be thereby effectively warned wheneverreplacement of the fuses becomes nec essary.

Th binding posts i3 and 36 are adapted to be connected in the lightingor other circuit of the automobile ignition or lighting system to beprotected by the fuses H, as will be obvious.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limitthe application of the invention thereto except as may be required by thscope of the subioined claims.

Having describe-d the claimed as new is:

1. A multiple fuse unit of the character described, said unit comprisinga casing for mounting on the reverse side of an instrument panel or thelike, an insulation plate on the wall of said casing lying against theinstrument panel,

invention, what is a plurality of longitudinally arranged fuses,longitudinally paired fuse clips receiving the opposite ends of thefuses, a bus bar connecting all of the spring clips at one end of thefuses, a contact are adjacent the opposite spring clips, said contactare embodying space and insulated segmental contacts each electricallyconnected to a corresponding one of the said opposite fuse clips, aswitch arm having its terminal riding on said contact arc, a rotaryshaft carrying said switch arm, said rotary shaft being arranged toextend through said insulation plate and the said wall of the casing andthrough an opening formed in said instrument panel and having a knob infront of the panel for moving the switch arm from one contact toanother, spring pressed guide means overlying the free end of saidswitch arm and pressing said free end into positive engagement with saidcontact arc.

2. A multiple fuse unit of the character described, said unit comprisinga casing for mcunting on the reverse side of an instrument panel or thelike, an insulation plate on the wall of said casing lying against theinstrument panel, a plurality of longitudinally arranged fuses,longitudinally paired fuse clips receiving the opposite ends of thefuses, a bus bar connecting all of the spring clips at one end of thefuses, a contact arc adjacent the opposite spring clips, said contactarc embodying spaced and insulated segmental contacts each electricallyconnected to a corresponding one of the said opposite fuse clips, aswitch arm having its terminal riding on said contact arc, a rotaryshaft carrying said switch arm, said rotary shaft being arranged toextend through said insulation plate and the said wall of the casing andthrough an opening formed in said instrument panel and having a knob infront of the panel for moving the switch arm from one contact toanother, a spring pressed conductor engaging the radially inward end ofsaid switch arm in alignment with the rotary shaftand pressing saidshaft toward the instrument panel.

3. A multiple fuse unit of the character described, said unit comprisinga casing, an insulation plate on a wall of said casing, a plurality oflongitudinally arranged fuses, longitudi nally paired fuse clipsreceiving the opposite ends of the fuses and supported on the plate, abus bar connecting all of the spring clips at one end of the fuses andhaving an end passing from the casing, said end acting as a terminal, acontact arc on the plate and located adjacent the opposite spring clips,said contact are embodying spaced and insulated segmental contacts eachelectrically connected to a corresponding one of the said opposite fuseclips, a switch arm having its terminal riding on said contact are, anarcuate guide member of ncn-conducting material spaced from the contactarc and between which and the said contact are the terminal of theswitch arm moves, spring brackets connected with the insulation plateand carrying the arcuate member of insulation, a rotary shaft carryingsaid switch arm, said rotary shaft being arranged to extend through saidinsulation plate and the said wall of the casing and having a knobthereon for moving the switch arm from one contact to another, said knobhaving reference numerals thereon corresponding to the fuses to indicatethe fuse presently in circuit.

HARRY B. JOSLIN.

